Introduction: The Prophet Is God’s Emissary on the Earth
Generally, a prophet is someone who foretells the future of a person, but in scriptural meanings, a prophet is God’s emissary who not only brings messages from God, directly or indirectly, but also conveys warnings of rewards, blessings, and admonitions from God to His people. Throughout history, prophets have carried out their roles at the behest of God, filling the narratives of almost all religious scriptures, be it the Bible, the Torah, or the Quran. The same holds for the Prophet Nathan in the book of Samuel. Here, Nathan serves as a prophet of God, while David has been appointed as the king of Israel by God, accompanied by a clear divine blessing, although he is considered a prophet in Islamic scriptures. Nathan successfully fulfills the role of a prophet by not only ensuring justice for David but also warning him of potential punishment, emphasizing the need for people to await the blessings of God and face consequences for their transgressions. In essence, in the narratives, the role of the prophet is not only to instill a sense of justice among rulers but also to caution them about the consequences of sinful acts and bring blessings from the Lord in the form of news of victories and happiness.
Tasks: The Prophet Is God’s Emissary
As for the task of the prophet to impart evaluation and assessment to the king or ruler, it is clear that individuals of God have the responsibility to spread the message of God rather than directly teaching kings. However, they can assess or evaluate a king based on their actions and behaviors, providing guidance accordingly. In this context, Nathan conveys a parable to David involving a poor man and a rich man. The rich man, possessing a whole flock, unjustly takes the only ewe lamb of the poor man, who had cared for it as his own child. When a guest arrives, the rich man opts to slaughter the poor man’s lamb instead of using one from his own herd. In response, David pronounces that the rich man deserves death for stealing the poor man’s lamb. Nathan commends David for this judgment, stating, “You are the man” (Osiek 518). This commendation indicates that Nathan was evaluating whether David had the discernment to distinguish between right and wrong, a crucial quality for a king. In other words, a prophet contributes to laying the foundation of a moral society.
Role of The Prophet Is God’s Emissary
Another role of the prophet is to warn the people of the punishment of God or convey the message of the Lord to the people. In this context, Nathan plays an important role when he cautions David about how the Lord had favored him with rule on the earth and how he had committed a sinful act, resulting in the loss of God’s favor (518). In essence, the prophet’s task is to convey to the individual that they have transgressed the boundaries set by the Lord and to outline the impending punishment.
Nathan serves as a messenger when he communicates the message of God to David, stating that God has said, “I will bring evil upon you out of your own house” and that “I will take your wives before your own house.” When David repents before Nathan, acknowledging that he has done a great wrong, Nathan conveys the divine message that the “child born to you will surely die,” a prophecy that unfolds as foretold (518). Despite David’s profound mourning, wailing, and cries, he loses his son as Prophet Nathan had warned of the consequences of his sin.
The Prophet Is God’s Emissary
As the Lord does not come to the earth Himself, it is the job of the Prophet to convey His wrath or happiness to His people who show transgression from His command or deviate from His path. When Nathan informs David of how the Lord is angry with him and takes his son away as a punishment, David accepts it with a resigned heart and starts a new chapter in life. The Lord becomes pleased with him, and then “The Lord loved him and sent the prophet Nathan to name him Jedidiah on behalf of our Lord” (519). This is clearly the news of happiness that Nathan brings to David, indicating that the Lord has not only forgiven him for his repentance and punishment but has also bestowed upon him the honor of having his generations become kings. Jedidiah is the name of King Solomon when he was an infant, as named by the Prophet Nathan.
The Prophet Is God’s Emissary: David
Although Nathan has not explicitly given the good news of victory to David, he attains a high divine status afterward, and God blesses him with victories. However, it is clear that David has been conveyed a message by the Lord Himself: “By David my servant, I will save my people from the power of the Philistines and from the power of all their enemies” (501). This is a clear reference to the role of the prophet, indicating that the prophet should ensure that God’s chosen people are on the right path, and if they come under danger, the Lord makes arrangements to save them from any sort of enemies. In other words, by saving, the Lord means that He will bless them with victories. That is why it is directly conveyed to David that the Lord will bless them with victories.
Goodness and The Prophet Is God’s Emissary
In this connection, it is also fair to say that as the messenger of God and herald of goodness, it is the duty of the prophet to bring peace. David has exemplified this on several occasions. First is the moment when he absolves himself of the murder of Abner, mourning his death and declaring his innocence. Second is the revenge that he exacts from the killers, in fulfillment of the covenants he has made to God.
In the first case, upon hearing of the murder of Abner, David makes it clear, “Before the Lord I and my kingdom are forever innocent” (511). He mourns Abner’s death, uttering elegiac verses and eliciting mourning from those around him. As people come to console him, David swears, “May God do thus to me, and more, if before the sun goes down I eat bread or anything else” (511).
The second instance occurs when Ishbaal is killed, and his head is brought to David. He makes it clear that the men who brought him the news of the death of the prophet Saul were rewarded immediately. In other words, David disapproves of the killing of Ishbaal and orders his men to execute those responsible to halt further bloodshed. This illustrates that the role of the prophet is to bring peace to the land through actions deemed just.
Blessings: The Prophet Is God’s Emissary
God then blesses His messengers and prophets with victories and blessings. In the case of David, God establishes him as king with the good news that his progenies would rule Israel. It is clear from the very inception of his reign, as God said, “You shall shepherd my people Israel; you shall be ruler over Israel” (512). In other words, the prophet becomes an emissary of God and takes up the responsibility of the chosen people of God. The ascent of David as the king of Israel clearly illustrates this divine responsibility bestowed upon a prophet, in this case, Nathan.
Soon after David’s kingship begins, he experiences victories not only in Zion but also in Jerusalem. He also achieves triumphs against the formidable force of the Philistines. The Lord Himself communicates with him, instructing him to attack, promising, “I will surely deliver the Philistines into your power” (512). The Lord continues to bless David with victories until he reunites with the daughter of Saul, Michal, and then generously rewards the people with a loaf of bread and meat for their enjoyment.
Furthermore, the prophet not only attains blessings and rewards from God, but his near and dear ones also reap the benefits. For example, David explicitly declares, “There is none like you” to the people about God, conveying the message that God is all-powerful (514). This underscores the role of the prophet, as God does not descend to directly communicate with the people.
Conclusion: The Prophet Is God’s Emissary
In short, it is apt to state that the prophet serves as an emissary of the Lord on Earth, conveying His messages to the people of God. The prophet not only warns them of the consequences of transgressions or sins but also acts as a mediator to shield them from the wrath of God. This is evident when Nathan narrates a parable to David, forewarning him of God’s wrath for his transgressions. Similarly, in the case of David, God bestows victories upon His chosen people and showers blessings through the prophet. The prophet serves as the conduit through which the messages of God reach the people, whether directly or indirectly, as exemplified in the case of David.
Works Cited: The Prophet Is God’s Emissary
Osiek, Carolyn. Anselm Academic Study Bible. Winona MN. Anselm Academic. 2008.
Relevant Questions about The Prophet Is God’s Emissary
- How do different religious traditions interpret and understand the role of “The Prophet as God’s Emissary”?
- In what ways do historical and cultural contexts shape the perception and significance of “The Prophet as God’s Emissary” across different religions?
- How do the teachings and messages of “The Prophet as God’s Emissary” influence the beliefs and practices of their followers in various religious traditions?